Score: 896

Section Analysis:

Standards and Terminology 100% Planning 73% Implementation 84% Troubleshooting 100%

After having failed this exam TWICE due to workload and lack of true knowledge not in the scope of the books, I was extremely glad to put this exam to bed! It was due to a proper study regime, every braindump I could find on this site, revision and divine intervention that pulled it off! Thanks Rob for a valuable resource and for keeping it up to date.

Tools To Pass!--------Microsoft Self Study Guide, the Sybex book, strong coffee, Transcender exams, Microsoft Pep Tests http://stsware.com , more strong coffee, and questions and tips from Braindumps.

I recommend the following:

  1. Don’t take all the info in the manuals as the absolute truth. There are discrepancies in the Microsoft self-study, the sybex book and certainly here and there in the Braindumps. If you read through all the Braindumps and check it against the manual, you will pick them up. Don’t let this cause you undue concern, as there are not that many. If you know your standards, then you are half way there!

  2. You don’t need to study 8 hours a day, 7 days a week for three months to pass this exam. You Do need to keep your study period consistent to retain the information. I put in on average 3 hours a night for two weeks, but that was me (No Einstein but also not a total flatliner). Try and cover as much ground on related subjects like the OSI model and Protocols in the same study sessions. This will help you to relate the subjects. Use the tests to verify what you have learnt.
  3. Read the Braindumps, especially those with Q&A and check your knowledge based on what is in the exam. This saves you a lot of time learning stuff that is not in the scope of the exam (especially in the Sybex book). Then when you have highlighted stuff which leaves you ill at ease (I printed out the submissions and reviewed them on good old paper) go back to the books and read up the chapter and check for other references in the scope of the books.
  4. Use diagrams to show relationships between things as a study aid and brainstorm in this manner after you have read a section. The OSI model is a lot clearer, as is RAID, the 802 section, the IRQ list, and LAN and WAN networking, when you have represented it graphically or written it down.
  5. Use acronyms that you are familiar with to tie words together. One that I found on a braindump submission really helped me to remember what protocol goes where on the OSI model. Check it out-----
      • Transport Layer protocols (1st Acronym)

      • S

      • T

      • U

      • N

      • N

      • Transport Layer protocols (2nd Acronym)

      • P

      • C

      • D

      • E

      • W

      • Balance of protocol

      • X

        (IPX

      • Pip

        (TCPIP)

      • P

        (UDP)

      • Tbeui

        (NetBEUI)

      • Link

        (NWLink)

  6. Read each book once cover to cover before you take a look at the Braindumps. At least then, if you don’t understand a question, you will at least know where it is and how to negate the problem.
  7. There are easy marks in the exam for things like cabling standards, hubs, routers and things and their functions. Know them once properly and how they work and you will never forget them. The exam loves to throw curved balls when it comes to the way they ask the question, but if you know your stuff and read the question properly, you will get it right. With things like cable types, protocols, components and topologies, go and build your own network on paper and create you own scenarios. Especially if you are studying without real world networks to practice your knowledge on, this will be a great help to piecing your knowledge together. In the case of problem solving, track problems progressively and in sequence.

Finally, don’t stress. There is enough info in the books and on this site to see you through the exam, just apply yourself! Keep testing yourself and checking what you know. So go and give Bill Gates and his mates from Sylvan a run for their money. Passing this exam will boost any prospective MCSE's morale immeasurably.

Proverb